“Chairman Ryan and I both know that this is not easy,” Murray said. “Our budgets are dramatically different. But it is extremely important and we agree that we need to step out of our partisan corners, make some compromises, and lay down a foundation for some long-term bipartisan agreements.”

The meeting was largely dominated by testimony from Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf, who talked about long-term economic and fiscal conditions.

”Improving or at least not worsening the long term budget outlook would be a good thing for the economy and our citizens,” Elmendorf told the panel.

The conference committee was created in conjunction with the deal that ended the government shutdown and avoided a federal debt default. The panel has until Dec. 13 to reach an agreement on the budget, although failing to do so carries few immediate consequences.

The most dire deadlines are slated for early next year. Unless Congress acts, government funding will run out on Jan. 15. The debt ceiling must be addressed in February.

And while few have expectations that the conference committee will be able to strike anything resembling the ever-elusive “grand bargain,” several members encouraged the panel to focus on the smaller goal of agreeing to a spending number for the current fiscal year.

Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) both pressed the two chairs to try to set a budget number for this year as quickly as possible so that the appropriations committees can begin their work.

“This is a matter of some urgency so the colleagues on the appropriations committee have the opportunity to get about the business of arriving at true spending bills,” Cole said. “There are enough common areas for us to find common ground.”

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) also joined the calls for a small deal.

“At least get me something done for a year or two, which can have extraordinary effect on the marketplace and economic growth,” he said.